Department for Transport

Tyres: Safety

earl attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatstatistics they have abouttyre "blow-outs" or other tyre incidents occurring on the strategic road network to inform their policyabout the maximum safe life of heavy goods vehicle and coach tyres.

baroness vere of norbiton: Neither Highways England, nor the Department, holds the statistics requested. The Department recently launched a consultation on proposals to ban tyres aged 10 years or older on heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, buses, coaches and minibuses. I encourage all interested parties to provide feedback on the consultation. Expert opinion from the Coroner’s inquests into two fatal road collisions and independent research commissioned by the Department provided evidence to support our proposals. The proposals in the consultation builds on existing roadworthiness guidance that advises against the use of tyres older than ten years on buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles, except on a rear axle as part of a twin wheel arrangement.

Parking Offences

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of legislation permitting the clamping or impounding of cars which have not paid parking tickets on a regular basis.

baroness vere of norbiton: No such assessment has been made, however the Secretary of State's ‘Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities on the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions’ advises on the immobilisation/removal of vehicles. Very few authorities now use immobilisation as it prevents law abiding motorists from using valuable kerb space. The Department is of the view that it should only be used in limited circumstances. Where a vehicle is causing a hazard or obstruction the enforcement authority should remove rather than immobilise. The statutory guidance advises that when parked in contravention, a persistent evader’s vehicle should be subject to the strongest possible enforcement following the issue of the penalty charge notice and confirmation of persistent evader status.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: EU Law

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have had with HS2 Ltd as to whether derogations under EU law would be needed for any of their works.

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Sugg on 10 April (HL14857),what assessment they have made of whether derogations under EU law would be needed for any part of HS2 Ltd’s works in the event that the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union at the time of those works being undertaken.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is committed to leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019. Regular discussions have been held between the Government and HS2 Ltd on whether derogations could be needed under EU law. We have assessed that the only matter of non-compliance which would require derogation under current EU law relates to the issue of platform heights. We will ensure that HS2 platform heights comply with the applicable legal framework in place when the platforms are placed into service in 2026.

Tyres: Safety

earl attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in relation to their consultationBanning tyres aged 10 years and older, what evidence base was used to inform the conclusion of the impact assessment that the monetised benefits are the same if the ban is applied to all axles or to steering axles only.

baroness vere of norbiton: As stated in the published impact assessment, the two fatal collisions identified by HM’s Coroner as having older tyres as a contributory factor provide the evidence base for the monetised benefits for the proposed ban. The estimated reduction in fatal collisions due to older tyres being removed from use is used to calculate these benefits. In both the fatal collisions the tyres that failed were fitted on the steering axle. The Department is not aware of any collisions that have occurred as a result of tyre failure due to its age for tyres fitted away from steering axles. In the absence of further evidence, the monetised benefits are estimated to be the same.

Railways: North of England

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they support plans for a “Northern Link” freight line between Liverpool Docks and Yorkshire and the East Coast, including the reinstatement of the track between Colne and Skipton; and what action, if any, they are taking in relation to that project.

baroness vere of norbiton: Local stakeholders have championed the reinstatement of the Colne-Skipton railway line and work is currently progressing to assess the proposed scheme and determine if it can be made affordable, will attract sufficient traffic, and is part of the right long-term solution for trans-Pennine rail traffic. We expect to receive the results later this year to inform a decision as to whether the scheme should progress to the ‘develop’ stage of the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline. This is part of our new approach to rail enhancements to ensure we address the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of schemes.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support local authorities to use environmentally friendly materials to repair and maintain roads.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability and durability of waste or recycled plastic for use as a material in roads.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, with regards to the British and European standards that relate to the materials that can be used in road surfaces, what substances are appropriate additives for use in the binding mixture used for such surfaces; and what stepsthey are taking to support innovation in the range of additives that can be used.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the levels of virgin plastic used in the construction of the road network; and what steps they are taking to replace it with recycled plastic.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is committed to exploring innovative ideas and processes for more environmentally friendly ways of constructing, repairing and maintaining road surfaces. The Department for Transport is aware of a number of initiatives, both here in England and overseas, in which recycled plastic and other waste product materials are added as a binding mix to asphalt. As part of the Live Labs research programme, in conjunction with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) and private partners, the Department for Transport announced in January 2019 funding of £1.6 million to Cumbria County Council to extend a trial for the selection and testing of recycled plastic in surfacing and structural treatments on the local road network. This trial will assess the suitability and durability of the plastics additives from minor patching work and pothole repairs through to major resurfacing. Technological innovation in road maintenance processes can also improve efficiency and reduce waste by recycling existing road material. Highways England is taking such an approach in reconstructing a 10-mile stretch of the A1(M) southbound carriageway between Leeming and the Ripon interchange. Information on road surface materials can be found in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges: volume 2, part of a suite of documents published by Highways England.

Railway Signals: Digital Technology

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to digitise railway signalling systems; and when they will publish a timetable to deliver those plans.

baroness vere of norbiton: In June this year, Network Rail published a Long-term Deployment Plan illustrating how the Network Rail regions will gradually migrate to digital signalling technology over a 30 year period starting from 2024.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Commonwealth Secretariat: Finance

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of public funding provided to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: In the 2016 Multilateral Development Review, the Department for International Development (DFID) assessed that the Commonwealth Secretariat was in need of further reform if it was to fulfil its crucial role at the heart of the Commonwealth. DFID agreed a Performance Management Agreement with the Secretariat for its future contributions to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. In its 2018 annual review of its support to Commonwealth institutions, DFID confirmed that the Secretariat had met all the criteria for the release of the first three tranches of support under the Agreement.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office commissioned an external Central Assurance Assessment of the Commonwealth Secretariat earlier this year. While this Assessment did not specifically consider value for money, it reported that reasonable progress had been made in demonstrating that the internal control environment was effective.The Secretariat's external auditors gave an unqualified opinion - with no recommendations - on the 2017/18 financial statements for all three of the main Secretariat funds.Through our active membership of the Secretariat's Board of Governors and Executive Committee, we are committed to ensuring that the Secretariat makes efficient use of public funds, with maximum impact and value for money for its member states and their citizens.At the request of Foreign Ministers, to fulfil a commission from Heads of Government, the Secretariat's Board of Governors has made recommendations to enhance the Secretariat's governance. Once implemented, they would make a significant difference to the effective operation of the Secretariat. We hope that they will be adopted soon.

Syria: Oil

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the export of oil to Syria is prohibited by the EU.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Article 14(2) of Council Regulation 36/2012 provides that no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of persons designated under the relevant annexes of the EU Syria sanctions regime. The definition of 'economic resources' at Article 1(f) of the Regulation encompasses assets of every kind, including oil.

Gibraltar: European Union

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is Gibraltar's current relationship with the EU.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Gibraltar and the United Kingdom form part of a single Member State of the European Union. As per Article 355 (3) TFEU (formerly Article 227(4) Rome Treaty), "the provisions of the Treaties shall apply to the European territories for whose external relations a Member State is responsible". Gibraltar's EU membership is, however, subject to qualifications as set out in the 1972 Accession Act. In particular, EU treaties covering the Customs Union, free movement of goods, VAT rules, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries policy do not apply to Gibraltar.

Syria: Sanctions

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherany EU restrictive measures against Syria are limited in their application to EU territory.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​All persons or entities within EU territory, including the territorial waters of EU Member States, must comply with EU financial sanctions that are in force. Article 35 of Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria provides that the Regulation applies (a) within the territory of the Union, including its airspace; (b) on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State; (c) to any person inside or outside the territory of the Union who is a national of a Member State; (d) to any legal person, entity or body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State; and (e) to any legal person, entity or body in respect of any business done in whole or in part within the Union.

Iran: Tankers

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU Commission about the legal implications of the detention of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The United Kingdom forwarded correspondence from the Government of Gibraltar that notified the EU Commission on 5th July 2019 of Government of Gibraltar action in respect of the Grace 1 on the 4th July 2019 pursuant to enforcement of EU Council Regulation 36/2012 (Syria). It is for Member States to determine and take necessary measures to implement and enforce EU sanctions. In this instance the decision to detain Grace 1 was taken by the Government of Gibraltar.

Pakistan: Christianity

lord forsyth of drumlean: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 July (HL18796), whether their objectives include seeking assurances about the measures being taken by the government of Pakistan to protect Christian minorities in that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Her Majesty's Government's objective is to support a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan. We continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations related to religious minorities.As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief I continue to raise the issue of protection of christian communities in Pakistan. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Federal Human Rights Minister, Dr. Shireen Mazari, during a visit to Pakistan in February 2019. The former Foreign Secretary discussed the treatment of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi during his visit to the UK in June 2019.

Iran: Tankers

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Iran intends to use its “committed forces” to respond to the seizure of the Iranian tanker Grace 1 by the Royal Navy near Gibraltar on 4 July.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by Iranian threats to disrupt shipping and are working hard to ensure ships are able to move freely and safely. The UK is focused on de-escalation and we continue to urge the Iranian authorities to reduce tensions. The former Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Zarif on 13 July to discuss the importance of finding a resolution to the current situation. We have been clear that Gibraltar’s action, with UK assistance, to detain the Grace 1 tanker was to enforce EU Syria sanctions in Gibraltar’s territorial waters on the basis that the oil was being transported to a sanctioned Syrian entity. The investigations being conducted around the Grace 1 remain a matter for the Government of Gibraltar.

Suzan Der Kirkour

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the rape, torture, and murder by stoning of a retired Christian schoolteacher, Suzan Der Kirkour in Syria; whether they are seeking to confirm reports about who was responsible; and what assessment they have made of the statement by church leaders that “attacks against Christians, mainly women and girls, are frequent here now.”

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of reports of the murder of Christian school teacher, Suzan Der Kirkour in Idlib, Syria. Given the difficulties of gathering information inside Syria, we are unable to assess who was responsible.Christians and people of other religions or beliefs, have suffered in the Syrian conflict, persecuted particularly by Daesh. The persecution of Christians, and indeed individuals of all faiths and beliefs, remains of profound concern to us. The British Government has recently accepted all of the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro's independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians overseas, and we will look to implement them at the earliest opportunity.

South Sudan: Politics and Government

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of theupcoming deadline for forming South Sudan’s Transitional Government, what steps they are taking to encourage the parties and regional powers in that region to (1) unify security forces, and 2) clarify, with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Dr Riek Machar’s freedom to travel back to South Sudan.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government remains closely engaged at senior levels with all sides in South Sudan, the region and the wider international community to encourage full implementation of the peace agreement signed on 12 September 2018, including through the work of the UK Special Representative to Sudan and South Sudan. As part of these efforts, the UK recently convened a meeting with regional and international partners to discuss peace agreement implementation, and risks and challenges ahead for the formation of a transitional government in November. We discussed how to secure progress on issues including the reunification of armed forces and ensuring the conditions are in place for opposition leaders to participate in government.On the reunification of armed forces, we work closely with security implementation bodies in Juba, and fund a security advisor to the ‘Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission’ to support oversight of such work. The return to South Sudan of opposition figures, including Dr Machar, is one part of the formation of a transitional government, and we urge this to happen by the November deadline. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as guarantors of the peace agreement, declared that Dr Machar is free from travel restrictions in a statement on 7 May. We have urged the region to ensure this message is reinforced, the status of his ability to travel clearly communicated, and no impediments are in place to prevent Dr Machar and others participating in any transitional government in Juba.

Saudi Arabia: Palestinians

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that over 150 Palestinians have been recently arrested in Saudi Arabia, possibly because of alleged links with the Muslim Brotherhood; whether any of those people have refugee status; and what action they intend to take to ensure that those arrested are not held indefinitely.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are concerned by the reports that 150 Palestinians have been arrested in Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh plan to raise this at the next available opportunity.

Palestinians: Academic Freedom

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, or intend to make, to the government of Israel about (1) international academics at Birzeit and other Palestinian universities reportedly being denied entry or residence visas by Israel, and (2) academic freedom and harm to those universities caused by any such visa refusals.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the difficulties some foreign passport holding academic staff have faced in their attempts to teach at Palestinian universities, in particular the visa denials and delays they have faced. The Government is concerned about the possible increasing trend of the Israeli immigration service limiting access, and denying entry or residency to the West Bank, especially for academics. This is impacting on the ability of academics to teach in the OPTs, affecting the quality of Palestinian higher education provision, and further disadvantaging Palestinians. We continue to raise our concerns about Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement and access into and out of the OPTs, including for foreign nationals, with the Israeli authorities.

Syria: Turkey

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that at least 13 civilians have recently been kidnapped by militants supported by Turkey in the Afrin province of Syria; and what plans they have to discuss such reports with the government of Turkey.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not received reports of this incident. We regularly discuss the situation in Syria with the Government of Turkey, and have made clear to Turkey the importance we attach to protection of civilians in Afrin.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will send an observer to the Astana Process meeting, starting in Kazakhstan on 1 August.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have no plans to send an observer to upcoming talks on Syria in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Our priority remains to end the conflict through a negotiated political settlement. We fully support the UN-led Geneva process, which remains the forum to achieve this.

Hezbollah

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Hezbollah forces are being deployed along Lebanon's and Syria's borders with Israel; and what plans they have in place to protect the UK's interests in that region.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government has serious concerns about the actions and behaviours of Hezbollah in the Middle East. Its continued role in Syria, amassing of weapons outside of state control and, therefore, the lack of distinction between its political and military wings is what led the former Home Secretary to extend proscription of Hezbollah to the entirety of the organisation. The former Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa raised this during his visit to Lebanon in March this year, when he expressed his concerns over Hezbollah's regional role; the former Foreign Secretary also raised concerns over Hezbollah’s destabilising activities and behaviours when he met the Lebanese Foreign Minister on 12 June. The British Government routinely discusses concerns about the actions of Hezbollah with the Israeli authorities.

Eritrea: National Service

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the current status of indefinite conscription in Eritrea.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to be deeply concerned by reports that indefinite conscription is ongoing in Eritrea. We raise concerns about human rights in Eritrea regularly, both directly with the Government, as the former Minister for Africa did with the Eritrean Foreign Minister in September 2018, and in international fora. In a statement at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights council on 12 July the UK welcomed the renewal of the Special Rapporteur's mandate, which we co-sponsored. The UK also urged Eritrea to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea and to reform national service.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the peace deal brokered in 2018 between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​In a statement by the former Minister for Africa, we welcomed the Eritrea/Ethiopia peace agreement, signed on 9 July 2018. At the UN Human Rights Council on 12 July the UK reiterated its strong support for the peace deal and remains hopeful that it will contribute to stability and prosperity in the two countries. We welcome the visit of Prime Minister Abiy to Eritrea on 18-19 July and the re-commitment of both sides to further progress in their bilateral relationship.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made ofthe recent border closure between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of reports that the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia remains closed and are concerned of the impact this has on the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship deal between Eritrea and Ethiopia that was signed last year. We urge the two countries to ensure the agreement is fully implemented in order to bring stability and prosperity to their countries and the Horn of Africa region. We welcome the visit of Prime Minister Abiy to Eritrea on 18-19 July and both sides re-commitment towards this.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance, if any, they are providing to Eritrea and Ethiopia in ratifying a trade agreement.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We continue to engage with Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as our regional and international partners to facilitate further progress of the peace deal they signed, including by seeking to identify practical ways to support improved ties and trade. We are encouraged that the Prime Minister of Ethiopia met with the Eritrean Prime Minister on 18 July in Asmara on the anniversary of the resumption of flights between the two countries. We remain hopeful that this will lead to further progress in implementation of their peace agreement.

Iran: Foreign Relations

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey are taking to de-escalate tensions with Iran.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The UK remains in close contact with Iran and other international partners, including at Ministerial level, to find diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions and to encourage all actors present in the region to avoid taking provocative actions.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking following reports of an escalation in violence by the Israel Defense Forcesand settlers, including an attack on two Palestinian children.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are very concerned by any instance of Palestinian children being killed or injured by Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank and Gaza. We have publicly and privately expressed our longstanding concerns about the use of live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. We continue to urge Israel to provide the necessary protections for Palestinian children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are also clear that Israel has the legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend their citizens from attack. In doing so, it is vital that all actions are proportionate, in line with International Humanitarian Law, and are calibrated to avoid civilian casualties. We also condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance and bring those responsible to justice. We have also stressed the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Palestinians: Prisoners

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations theyhave made to the government of Israel about the abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government has concerns about mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and about Israel’s respect of its obligations in this regard, as an Occupying Power, under applicable international law. We have raised concerns over treatment of Palestinian minors detained by the Israeli authorities on many occasions, most recently on 6 June. We have concerns over the continued transfer of Palestinian child and adult detainees to prisons inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Palestinians: Prisoners

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) treatment of, and (2) information supplied to, families of Palestiniansheldin Israeli prisonswithout charge.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.

Israel: West Bank

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Israel about the reported confiscation of tents and solar panels from Palestinians in Nahalin.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Whilst we have not raised this specific issue, our Embassy in Tel Aviv last raised confiscations with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 July. We remain gravely concerned by the continued confiscation of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities. Confiscations cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution.

Palestinians: Detainees

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Israel about reports that Palestinian students were detained for celebrating their graduation with fireworks.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Whilst we have not raised this specific issue, British ministers and officials continue to make repeated representations to the Israeli Government about their detention practices. The UK remains committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding Palestinian children in detention in Israel.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 10 July (HL16850), what steps they are taking to ensure the security of the Palestinian population living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the security of the Israeli population living in that area.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. We understand and share the deep frustration on all sides at the lack of progress on the Middle East Peace Process. The ongoing violence underlines that a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue. As part of our commitment to Israel's security and the fight against terror, the UK continues to provide the Palestinian Authority with professional support in helping develop its security institutions.

EU Action

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the UK has voted against legislation in the Council of Ministers since 2001; and on how many of those occasions that legislation subsequently passed.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​This information is not held centrally and to compile it would incur disproportionate cost. Information on EU legislation can be found on the EU website.

Nabeel Rajab

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 4 July (HL16567), why they were not aware of Nabeel Rajab’s application, and subsequent rejection, for alternative sentencing, given (1) reports by international news outlets, and (2) their close monitoring of his case; and what mechanisms they use to assess Bahrain’s provision of alternative sentences.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are not privy to individual applications for alternative sentencing. We assess information that is publically released through official channels. The decision making process of the application of alternative sentencing is subject to meeting qualifying conditions and remains the responsibility of the Bahraini judicial system. We are closely monitoring the trials of Mr Rajab with officials from the Embassy regularly attending court hearings. We have raised the case as part of the UK's ongoing open dialogue with Bahrain at senior levels. We continue to urge the Government of Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens in line with its international commitments.

Bahrain: Sentencing

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Instagram post by the British Embassy in Manama on 22 July stating that Prosecutor Ali Al Showaikh revealed that 586 individuals in Bahrain have benefited from non-custodial sentences since the new legislation on alternative sentencing was implemented in May 2018, whether they know the names of those individuals; and what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about discrimination in the implementation of that law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Bahrain has brought in new legislation related to alternative sentencing and has already started to implement provisions under this new legal framework. We welcome this positive move in reforming the judicial system. UK expertise has supported this process. The names of the 586 individuals that have benefited from non-custodial sentences have not been published.

Hassan Mushaima

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Bahrain about the access of Hassan Mushaima to specialised medical care without shackles, in line with international standards.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to monitor the case of Hassan Mushaima closely. We have raised the case of Mr Mushaima at senior levels with the Bahraini Government and continue to follow the case. We have received confirmation of Mr Mushaima's recent medical appointments and assurances that he will continue to have access to all necessary healthcare and medical treatment whilst in detention, as guaranteed by the Bahraini constitution.

Bahrain: Nationality

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have been made of the Bahraini individuals whose citizenships were reinstated in April; and what assessment they have made of whether those individuals have regained their full rights as citizens following reports that (1) applications for passports are being rejected, and (2) they are not benefitting from state benefits and services.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK has raised our concerns on the revocation of Bahraini citizenship at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain. We welcome the reinstatement of Bahrain citizenship to 643 people so far this year and will continue to monitor this issue. We encourage individuals experiencing issues with reinstatement of benefits and services to report them to the Bahrain National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR). We continue to urge the NIHR to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such concerns or allegations.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they are providing technical assistance to the government of Bahrain; and whether they intend to make representations to that government about human rights abuses, including reported cases of sexual assault and torture against female human rights defenders and activists by state officials in Bahrain.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to monitor events in Bahrain closely and we regularly raise human rights with the Government of Bahrain, at senior levels, both in private and public. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.The UK has been providing a range of technical and practical assistance to the Government of Bahrain since 2012, in support of its reform programme. Any training provided by or on behalf of the British Government complies with our domestic and international human rights obligations.We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report them to the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body. We continue to encourage these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such concerns or allegations.

Bahrain: Prisons

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about the conditions in the Isa Town Prison, including the reported (1) repeated denial of adequate medical care for a lump in the breast of Hajer Mansoor, and (2) restrictions to unimpeded family visits without a glass barrier for Hajer Mansoor, Najah Yusuf, and Medina Ali.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to follow the cases of Ms Mansoor, Ms Yusuf and Ms Ali, and have raised the issue of access to medical care with the Government of Bahrain at a senior level. The Government of Bahrain have given categorical assurances that Ms Mansoor has had appropriate investigations and will continue to receive access to appropriate medical care, as guaranteed by the constitution of Bahrain. We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report them to the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body. We continue to encourage these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such concerns or allegations.

Department of Health and Social Care

Bacterial Diseases

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 9 July (HL16592), what is their view of the proportion of each of the resulting illness, deaths and costs that could be prevented by new efforts to prevent transmission; and what are the costs of new measures introduced in 2019 to prevent transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Public Health England (PHE) has prioritised collecting the necessary data across the National Health Service to enable estimation and monitoring of the proportion of cases, deaths and costs attributable to carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.In May 2015 PHE implemented an enhanced surveillance system of all carbapenemase-producing Gram negative bacteria, which was modified in 2019 to maximise efficiency. The health burden of cases, estimated from these data, will be published in the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation Report in November 2019.The few published reports of outbreaks have estimated costs of at least £1 million, and up to £5 million, all indicating multi-model control measures are required, as outlined in the PHE toolkit for prevention and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae which is currently being updated.Using national surveillance and patient administration data to develop mathematical models, work is ongoing to estimate the reduction in levels of illness and death when specified detection and control measures are applied by 2020. Developed models will enable associated costs incurred to be estimated and the cost-effectiveness of control measures to be established by 2021.

Gambling: Rehabilitation

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 17 July (HL16963 and HL16964), what was the budget ofLeeds and York Partnership NHS Trustfor funding the NHS Northern Gambling Clinic; and what is the projected cost of that clinic in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, and (3) 2022.

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 17 July (HL16963 and HL16964), what was the budget of the Central and North West LondonNHS Foundation Trust for funding the National Problem Gambling Clinic; and what is the projected cost of that clinic in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, and (3) 2022.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: NHS England and NHS Improvement have allocated £600,000 to Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and £370,000 to Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for gambling harm services provision in 2019/20, which includes funding for these clinics. GambleAware, an independent charity, is providing additional funding for these clinics. Information on this funding is not held centrally. Future years’ funding is not yet available.

NHS: Pensions

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to compensate senior NHS staff who have inadvertently exceeded the tapered annual pensions allowance.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: For the majority of people, their pension contributions are tax-free. This makes pensions tax relief one of the most expensive reliefs in the personal tax system. The reforms to the lifetime and annual allowance made in the previous two parliaments are expected to save over £6 billion per year and are necessary to deliver a fair system and protect public finances. Less than 1% of pension savers will have to reduce their saving or face an annual allowance charge as a result of the tapered annual allowance.While there are no plans to compensate senior National Health Service staff who exceed their tax-free pension savings allowances, the Scheme Pays facility is there to assist NHS Pension Scheme members who breach the annual allowance, and allows them to settle their lifetime and annual allowance charges without making an upfront payment. The Scheme Pays facility was recently extended to cover tax charges of any amount and those arising from the tapered annual allowance.The Government has launched a full public consultation setting out proposals to make the NHS Pension Scheme more flexible for clinicians, to give them more control over their pension growth and tax liabilities.

Department for International Trade

Trade Promotion

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byViscount Younger of Leckie (HL16983), whether they will include the list of Trade Envoys and appointment dates inthe text of the Written Answer for inclusion in Hansard.

lord young of cookham: I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement given by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade on 18 July 2019, HCWS1760. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2Clords&uin=HCWS1760 On the 18 July 2019 my Noble Friend Lord Risby was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Lebanon which is in addition to his current role as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Algeria. Also on the 18 July 2019 the Hon. Member for Dudley North, Ian Austin MP, was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Israel. These two new appointments take the total number of Trade Envoys to 27 parliamentarians covering 58 markets. Full List of Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys, their Markets and date of appointment Trade Envoy NameDesignated MarketsDate of PM AppointmentLord RisbyAlgeriaNovember 2012 LebanonJuly 2019Baroness MorrisJordan, Kuwait, Palestinian TerritoriesNovember 2012Baroness Bonham CarterMexicoNovember 2012Richard Graham MPIndonesiaNovember 2012 Trade Envoy to the ASEAN Economic CommunityJuly 2015 Philippines, MalaysiaJanuary 2016Baroness NicholsonIraqJanuary 2014 Azerbaijan, TurkmenistanApril 2016 KazakhstanJuly 2017Lord JanvrinTurkeyJanuary 2014Mark Prisk MP(Investment Envoy) Nordic and Baltic RegionApril 2014 BrazilMarch 2016Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MPEgyptNovember 2015Adam Afriyie MPGhanaJanuary 2016 GuineaSeptember 2017Lord PopatUganda, RwandaJanuary 2016John Howell MPNigeriaJanuary 2016Rushanara Ali MPBangladeshMarch 2016Lord Astor of HeverOmanNovember 2016Lord FaulknerTaiwanJanuary 2016Lord LamontIranJanuary 2016Baroness NorthoverAngolaJanuary 2016 ZambiaJuly 2017Paul Scully MPMyanmar, Brunei, ThailandJuly 2017Jeremy Lefroy MPEthiopiaJuly 2017Andrew Selous MPSouth AfricaJuly 2017Mark Pritchard MPGeorgia, ArmeniaSeptember 2017Mark Menzies MPArgentina, Colombia, Peru, ChileSeptember 2017Simon Hart MPPanama, Dominican Republic, Costa RicaSeptember 2017Ed Vaizey MPVietnam, Laos,CambodiaSeptember 2017Sir Henry Bellingham MPLibyaJune 2018Pauline Latham MPKenyaAugust 2018Andrew Rosindell MPTanzaniaSeptember 2018Ian Austin MPIsraelJuly 2019

Trade Promotion

lord grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byViscount Younger of Leckie on 17 July (HL16983), what has been the total cost of the Trade Envoy system since 2012 including staffing support and travel costs.

lord young of cookham: Since the Programme was launched in November 2012 the cumulative cost of travel and subsistence has been £848,962. Accurate staffing support figures for the programme are not available as the programme pre-dates the formation of the Department and has changed as the programme has evolved. For 2018/19 the programme’s staffing costs were approximately £551,000. This is based on the average salary costs for the current staffing level.

Trade Agreements: Canada

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a reductionin import tariffs on a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and Canada.

lord young of cookham: We are working to transition existing EU trade agreements, including CETA, into bilateral deals as the UK leaves the EU. We continue to engage Canada to seek to achieve this at the earliest opportunity, and both sides are committed to a strong trading relationship moving forwards. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK will implement a temporary tariff which aims to minimise costs to business and mitigate price impacts on consumers. However, this will be temporary, applying for up to 12 months. It is not the basis for a long-term preferential trading relationship - transition of CETA remains the best foundation for the UK’s future trading relationship with Canada.

Cabinet Office

Public Buildings: Art Works

lord rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), what assessment they have made of the displaying of portraits of the Royal Family in publicly funded buildings in all four nations of the UK.

lord rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what procedures are in place to process any complaint about the display of images of the Royal Family in publicly funded buildings; and what steps they take to determine the level of any compensation paid as a result of such a complaint.

lord young of cookham: No further assessment has been made of how and where portraits of the Royal Family are displayed across the UK.Civil Servants are free to raise concerns about any issue and should follow their departmental procedures to resolve disputes and grievances. Compensation payments are not routinely paid as part of this process.

Treasury

Insolvency

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the impact that theproposal to make HMRC a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies may have on business rescue support in the UK from April 2020.

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that theirproposal to make HMRC a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies will have on the UK’s ranking in the World Bank’s annual "Doing Business" report.

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government why HM Treasury has decided to not introduce a cap on the age of tax debts which will be eligible for secondary preferential status in insolvencies from April 2020; and what assessmentthey have madeof the impact of this decision on the costs of insolvency procedures and business lending.

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government why HM Treasury has decided that existing lending will not be exempted from their policy of making HMRC a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies; and what assessment they have made of the impact of this decision on the continued availability of existing business lending.

lord young of cookham: This reform is designed to ensure that when a business becomes insolvent, more of the taxes paid in good faith by that business’s employees and customers will go to fund public services as intended, rather than being distributed to other creditors such as financial institutions.This measure does not include a cap on the age of tax debts which will be eligible for secondary preferential status, nor an exemption for existing lending. Either proposal would introduce potential distortions into the lending market which the Government does not consider to be either fair or proportionate.The Government does not expect this reform to have a significant impact on access to finance, the cost of borrowing, business rescue support in the UK or the UK’s ranking in the World Bank’s annual “Doing Business” report.Consistent with the Government’s impact assessment, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) did not make any adjustments to their economic forecast in response to this measure.

Financial Conduct Authority

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what tests they apply to determine whetheran investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) meets the standard required to be described as independent of the FCA; and what assessment they have made of whether FCA employees acting for aninvestigation compromises its independence.

lord young of cookham: Where such investigations are conducted, HM Treasury take steps to ensure their independence which is crucial to the integrity of their conclusions. For example, in the recent case of the events surrounding the failure of London Capital & Finance plc (LCF), and following a request from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Economic Secretary to the Treasury required that an independent investigation be carried out under powers in section 77 of the Financial Services Act 2012. The Economic Secretary approved the appointment of Dame Elizabeth Gloster, an experienced QC and Judge at the High Court and Court of Appeal, to lead it. Prior to this approval, potential conflicts of interest were investigated and HM Treasury is satisfied that Dame Elizabeth is independent from the FCA, HM Treasury and the companies and individuals associated with LCF’s failure. Under the terms of the Economic Secretary’s Direction to the FCA, Dame Elizabeth has the discretion to appoint a team which is entirely independent of the FCA. A process is now underway to appoint an independent legal team to support Dame Elizabeth in her investigation. The FCA is also under a duty to facilitate the disclosure to Dame Elizabeth any information that she deems relevant to the scope of her investigation. Should Dame Elizabeth wish to raise any matters directly to HM Treasury, she can do so at any time, under the terms of the Direction, via an interim report.

Financial Institutions: Insolvency

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthey have identified any features in common in the cases of London Capital and Finance, Lendy Limited and Collateral (UK) Limited that require a change in regulation, law or process.

lord young of cookham: London Capital and Finance plc (LCF) are a firm that issued mini-bonds, that entered administration on 30 January 2018. On 23 May, the Treasury formally directed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to launch an independent investigation into the events at LCF, and approved the FCA’s appointment of Dame Elizabeth Gloster to lead it. Lendy Limited and Collateral (UK) Limited are peer to peer (P2P) platforms authorised by the FCA and subject to FCA rules. The operationally independent FCA’s investigation into the circumstances that led to the administration of Lendy is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate for Government to pre-empt its findings, or that of the investigation of the events at LCF.

Collateral (UK)

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they first became aware that Collateral (UK) Limited was acting without authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); and whythat company was allowed to take new client money without advising clients that the firm was not authorised by the FCA.

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have investigated the change of name on the FCA register of authorised parties of Regal Pawnbrokers Limited to Collateral (UK) Limited; whether they identified any concerns about that change in respect of Collateral (UK) Limited; and if so, when.

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any action was taken to protect (1) documents of, and (2) client money in, Collateral (UK) Limited when they were made aware that that firm was acting without the authorisation of the Financial Conduct Authority; and if not, why not.

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they were aware that Collateral (UK) Limited advertised itself as having interim authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) when this was not the case; whether the FCA has taken any actionagainst that firm, its shareholders or directors; and what assessment they have made of whether that firm continued to raise money from investorsafter the Government were made aware of it falsifying its authorisation.

lord young of cookham: The Government monitors the development of the peer to peer (P2P) sector and engages regularly with P2P platforms and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are responsible for the regulation of the sector. This requires platforms to be authorised by the FCA and subject to FCA rules governing, among other areas, how they handle client money and promote themselves to consumers, and capital requirements. The regulatory status of Collateral (UK) Ltd, and the events which led to its register entry appearing to show that it held an interim permission, when it did not, are matters the FCA is investigating as they may involve fraud or misconduct by persons connected with the firm who may have misused the register. In order to avoid prejudicing any proceedings which may arise from the investigation, the FCA are unable to provide further details of how they believe the change to the register came about. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is operationally independent from Government. These questions relate to the FCA and have been passed on to them. The FCA will reply directly to Lord Myners by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Lendy

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took to stop Lendy from declaring dividends to pay capital to that firm’s owners when Lendy was under review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); and whether the FCA intends to compensate any lenders who did not receive full remediation payments as a result ofa shortfall in capital.

lord young of cookham: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for the authorisation and regulation of peer to peer (P2P) platforms, and is currently carrying out an enforcement investigation into the circumstances that led to the administration of Lendy. It would be inappropriate for Government to pre-empt its findings. The FCA is operationally independent from Government. The question as it relates to the FCA has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to Lord Myners by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Financial Services

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the case for specifying a higher liquidity test for UK-managed Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities than is required by EU Directive 2009/65/EC; and what discussions they have had with the Financial Conduct Authority about that test.

lord young of cookham: Following the suspension of the Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF), HM Treasury has discussed the liquidity rules for UK UCITS funds with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is responsible for the ongoing supervision and regulation of the UK’s financial services sector, including investment funds. The FCA have launched an investigation into the events leading up to the suspension of the WEIF. The investigation will determine the facts of the case, including whether any rules have been broken, and inform any future decision on whether rule changes are required.

Banks: Loans

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they or the Prudential Regulation Authority monitor loans by smaller banks to related parties; and what assessment, if any, they have made of how Wyelands Bank complies in this respect with regulatory limits.

lord young of cookham: This is a matter for the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the PRA. The PRA will reply directly to Lord Myners by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Taxation: Electronic Government

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to continue with the rollout of their Simple Assessment and dynamic coding projects, which were paused in May 2018.

lord young of cookham: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) delivered Simple Assessment to a small number of customers in 2017. Due to the need to prioritise EU exit, HMRC temporarily suspended further work to extend the service to a larger number of customers. The service remains active for the original user base, and further enhancements are being made this financial year. HMRC are reviewing whether to make further investments into the service in the context of the Spending Review. HMRC have long had a delivery plan for the dynamic coding-out of debt project. The service was successfully introduced for a number of taxation scenarios that cause an over- or under-payment of PAYE. After the closure of the Making Tax Digital for Individuals Programme, which included a wider dynamic coding option, and resource reallocation to EU exit, a new IT solution was required for this Budget 2017 project. HMRC remain committed to delivering this project. Further work on the wider dynamic coding activities will be considered as part of wider Spending Review planning.

PAYE

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of Real Time Information (RTI) to ensure low earners receive the tax relief they are due; and what plans they have to require all employers to use RTI.

lord young of cookham: Information filed by employers through RTI is applied equally to all relevant customer records. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) do not make a distinction between low and high earners when applying rules within tax calculations. Employers who pay all of their employees under the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and have no tax deducted are not required to register with HMRC. The employer is not required to report information to HMRC until there is a tax or NICs deduction payable to HMRC. There are no plans to mandate employers who pay small amounts of wages to all of their employees to register with HMRC.

VAT: Tax Evasion

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amount lost to the Exchequer due to VAT fraud perpetrated by online traders based outside the EU; and what estimate they have made of the proportion of that fraud originating in China.

lord young of cookham: The information requested is not held. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) estimate the tax gap, which encompasses fraud for VAT, excise duties and customs duty. However, it is not possible to produce these estimates for online traders based outside the EU, and for fraud originating in China. Tax gaps for VAT, excise duties and other taxes overall are provided in HMRC’s publication ‘Measuring Tax Gaps’. HMRC estimate that the tax loss from VAT fraud and error on online marketplaces was between £1 billion and £1.5 billion in 2016/17. The department estimates that overseas sellers contributed to approximately 60% of the VAT loss.

VAT: Tax Evasion

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of China in relation to addressing online VAT fraud; and what steps they are taking as a result.

lord young of cookham: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have increased their engagement with China Customs through the Fiscal Crime Liaison Officer in Beijing. The engagement is designed to tackle undervaluation fraud, including online VAT fraud, with the help of the Chinese authorities. This has included a memorandum of understanding, set up in 2018, leading to a joint working group and a series of commodity-focused exercises. In addition, HMRC’s primary focus in tackling the VAT issue has been with the online marketplaces through which those sellers operate, as this has proven to be an effective way of improving their compliance. The Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme supports this compliance activity by regulating the sites where overseas sellers store imported goods prior to their sale.

VAT: Tax Evasion

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many penalties they have issued to online traders based outside the EU for VAT fraud; and what was the total value of such penalties.

lord young of cookham: The information requested is not held. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) record the total number and amount of penalties issued to sellers based overseas who operate on online marketplaces, but do not hold separate figures for EU and non-EU sellers. Up to 29 July 2019, HMRC have issued VAT penalties to a total of 1,059 overseas sellers; the total penalty amount is £34,056,356.39.